With glaciers retreating, why haven't sea levels risen noticeably.?

Answer 1

It seems that in the last 100 years the earth's temperature has increased about half a degree Celsius.

This higher temperature may be causing some floating icebergs to melt, but this will not make the oceans rise. Icebergs are large floating chunks of ice. In order to float, the iceberg displaces a volume of water that has a weight equal to that of the iceberg. Submarines use this principle to rise and sink in the water by changing their weight.

But in 1995 the International Panel on Climate Change (see 2nd link below) issued a report which contained various projections of the sea level change by the year 2100. They estimate that the sea will rise 50 centimeters (20 inches) with the lowest estimates at 15 centimeters (6 inches) and the highest at 95 centimeters (37 inches).

The rise will come from thermal expansion of the ocean and from melting glaciers and ice sheets. Twenty inches is no small amount -- it could have a big effect on coastal cities, especially during storms.

Answer 2

Sea levels have risen noticeably. The cause however is primarily due to the thermal expansion of the oceans due to heating of the water. It will take much melting than glaciers to affect sea levels much. Greenland and Antarctica melting are the only two areas that would have a huge impact.

Answer 3

Ice in a cup analogy. Already been given.

Real sea level rise will happen if the oceans heat up, and the water starts expanding.

*Ps to the answer 2 below mine. Thats 60-70% of the earths FRESH (aka not salt) water. The great lakes around michigan hold most of the rest. The glaciers and icecaps probably contain about 5% of the total water the earth has

Answer 4

Wow, I cant believe someone has asked this question. The sea level has risen, that is why Hawaii needs to have sand shipped in from Australia. as theirs is continually washing away, that is why lights houses are being moved backed, out the the waters that they were not in years ago, that is why ares of Mexico are now considered to be below sea level, and sere you can see children playing soccer in 3 inches of water.......if you have blinders on, you will not see the evidence!

Answer 5

First you must define "noticeably" -- do you mean by those who measure things carefully, or by those who will only "notice" when the sea is washing away their own home, or by those who will deny it no matter what the evidence is because they'd hate to admit "liberal propaganda" was actually based on fact?

If you're talking about careful measurement, it's already happened. As for when it will be noticeable to the average citizen who doesn't live next to the sea, it will take something dramatic to catch their attention. And even then, there will be those who deny it, just like the religious fools who deny that dinosaurs existed ("the fossils were planted by the devil to fool us!") and the business fools who deny the danger of DDT ("anything that helps me make money can't be bad").

Answer 6

first Ice takes a bigger volume than water.
Anyway that sea levels will rise is inevitable one way or another but probably you´re grandson´s will live in their late years to see some coast cities dissapear and the map will change slowly
beside you can look and see that not everywhere is meant to be flooded (actually it is believed that eventually the mediterranean sea will dry)in some parts water goes up something like a centimeter a year (know how to calculate volume, height by the surface, a centimeter represents a huge volume)

Answer 7

They actually have been noticed, by scientists. It just isn't evident at a glance because the oceans are so large. A couple of inches wouldn't seem like much, but considering the area of just one sea, you're talking about millions & millions of gallons. As global warming proceeds, the problem will become much more evident. Children of the '90's & 2000's will be the ones to suffrer the consequences of our neglect of the environment now.

Answer 8

Sea levels haven't risen noticably because they aren't retreating.

Answer 9

well there is still a lot of glaciers, but sea levels are already rising. polar bears are having trouble because they depend on the ice to hunt and get fat for hibernation and they have begun to go into hibernation with less fat supplys (bad for them) due to the break-up of ice sooner in the season. look around the web and you see evidence of global warming everywhere. the map in the link below is interesting too and you'll see evidence of sea levels rising.

Answer 10

i believe that the glaciers hold approxamately 65 to 70 % of the earths water so in order for there to be a noticable rise it is going to take many many years of glacier retreating